Ammonia canister connection device

ABSTRACT

An ammonia canister connector is disclosed having a male component and a female component which reversibly couple to one another to form a secure connection. The male component has a base with an internal threaded portion for detachable connection to an ammonia canister tap, a fluid filter within the base, and a nipple section extending from the base and having at least two seal members. Similarly, in various embodiments, the female component is connectable to a feed line and includes a receptacle defined by a sidewall and configured to accept the nipple section of the male component, a sleeve positioned about the receptacle sidewall and capable of limited sliding movement, a locking mechanism positioned within the receptacle sidewall for alternately engaging and disengaging from the nipple section when inserted within the receptacle, wherein the locking mechanism is actuated by the sliding movement of the sleeve, and a check valve within the female component for preventing back flow to the receptacle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present device relates to a connector for containers. Morespecifically, the device relates to a safety connector for an ammoniacanister (or cartridge) used on internal combustion engines for exhaustgas after-treatment systems.

BACKGROUND

Compression ignition engines provide advantages in fuel economy, butproduce both NO_(x) and particulates during normal operation. New andexisting regulations continually challenge manufacturers to achieve goodfuel economy and reduce the particulates and NO_(x) emissions. Lean-burnengines achieve the fuel economy objective, but the high concentrationsof oxygen in the exhaust of these engines yields significantly highconcentrations of NO_(x) as well. Accordingly, the use of NO_(x)reducing exhaust treatment schemes is being employed in a growing numberof systems.

One such system is the direct addition of ammonia gas to the exhauststream. It is an advantage to deliver ammonia directly in the form of agas, both for simplicity of the flow control system and for efficientmixing of reducing agent, ammonia, with the exhaust gas. The direct useof ammonia also eliminates potential difficulties related to blocking ofthe dosing system, which are cause by precipitation or impurities, e.g.,in a liquid-based urea solution. In addition, an aqueous urea solutioncannot be dosed at a low engine load since the temperature of theexhaust line would be too low for complete conversion of urea to ammonia(and CO₂).

Due to its caustic nature, transporting ammonia as a pressurized liquidor gas can be hazardous if the container bursts, as the result of anaccident, or if a valve or tube breaks. Ammonia can be provided as asolid in the form of disks or balls loaded into a cartridge or canister.The canisters are then loaded into a mantle or other storage device andsecured to the vehicle for use. When an appropriate amount of heat isapplied to the canisters, the ammonia-containing solid storage materialreleases ammonia gas which is routed to an injector for entry into theexhaust system of a vehicle. While the use of solid ammonia may be lessof a safety issue due to the small amount of heat required to releasethe ammonia as a gas and the equilibrium pressure at room temperaturewhich can be below 1 bar, even a small discharge as a result of leaks orat disconnect can be harmful if inhaled or contacted by skin or othertissue.

Eventually the ammonia in a canister is depleted and must be rechargedor replaced. Some ammonia gas may reside in the connection tubing andmay be discharged upon disconnection. Such conditions and procedures mayincrease the possibility of an accidental ammonia exposure.

Thus, the present device provides a safety connector for facilitatingquick and secure connection and disconnection of ammonia canisters.These and other problems are addressed and resolved by the disclosedsystems and method of the present application.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed herein a device which avoids the disadvantages ofprior devices while affording additional structural and operatingadvantages.

Generally, an ammonia canister connector is disclosed having a malecomponent and a female component which reversibly couple to one anotherto form a secure connection. In various embodiments, the male componentcomprises a base having an internal threaded portion for detachableconnection to an ammonia canister tap, a fluid filter within the base,and a nipple section extending from the base and having at least twoseal members.

Similarly, in various embodiments, the female component is connectableto a feed line and comprises a receptacle defined by a sidewall andconfigured to accept the nipple section of the male component, a sleevepositioned about the receptacle sidewall and capable of limited slidingmovement, a locking mechanism positioned within the receptacle sidewallfor alternately engaging and disengaging from the nipple section wheninserted within the receptacle, wherein the locking mechanism isactuated by the sliding movement of the sleeve, and a check valve withinthe female component for preventing back flow to the receptacle.

In an embodiment of the connector, the fluid filter comprises a sinteredmetal filter. The filter may have an average pore size in the range offrom about 1 to about 10 microns, typically about 7 microns.

In an embodiment of the connector, the nipple section has a length anddiameter incompatible with standard hydraulic and pneumatic couplers andthe receptacle has a depth and internal diameter incompatible withstandard hydraulic and pneumatic couplers.

These and other aspects of embodiments of the invention are described inthe following detailed description and shown in the appended drawingfigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating the operation of ammonia deliverysystem in cooperation with an vehicle engine, exhaust gasafter-treatment system and vehicle electronics;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of an ammonia canister utilizing an embodimentof the present connector;

FIG. 3 is a close-up of an embodiment of the two-piece connector; and,Appendix.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3 and the Appendix, embodiments of a systemand methods are described to one of skill in the relevant art. Generallyspeaking, an ammonia delivery system, designated with the referencenumber 10 in the figures, typically works in conjunction with aninternal combustion engine 12, an exhaust gas after-treatment system 14,and vehicle electronics 16. Typically, the ammonia provided for use inthe delivery system 10 is carried on-board and requires periodicrecharging.

In an embodiment of the ammonia delivery system 10, a canister 20 of thetype known to those skilled in the art, contains a supply of ammonia insolid form. The canister 20, with its release valve positioned to bestbe coupled to the ammonia delivery line, is loaded into a canistercarrier and secured in place. Through the fluid line 24, the canister 20is connected to a metering system 22 as well.

The connection between the canister 20 and the fluid line 24 isaccomplished using a special connector 26 to prevent accidental leakageof the ammonia from either the canister 20 or the connection between thefluid line 24 and the canister 20. The connector 26 is comprised of amale component 60 and a female component 62.

The male component 60 comprises a base 70 having an internal threadedportion 71, preferably left-handed threads, for detachable connection tothe ammonia canister valve, a fluid filter within the base 70, and anipple section 72 having at least two seal members 73 and extending fromthe base 70. An O-ring seal (not shown) may be provided within the base70 of the component 60, as well. The male component 60 is preferablymade from stainless steel or similar material for corrosion resistanceand submergiblity for the recharge process.

The female component 62 connects to the fluid line 24 using abarbed-connector 80 inserted within the fluid line 24 and a hose clamp(not shown) tightened about the fluid line 24 and barbed-connector 80.The female component 62 comprises a receptacle 81 defined by a sidewall82 and configured to accept the nipple section 72 of the male component60, a sleeve 83 positioned about the receptacle sidewall 82 and capableof limited sliding movement, a locking mechanism 84 positioned withinthe receptacle sidewall 82 for alternately engaging and disengaging fromthe nipple section 72 when inserted within the receptacle 81, and acheck valve (not shown) within the female component 62 for preventingback flow of fluid into the receptacle 81. The locking mechanism 84 ispreferably a ring of bearings, as is typically used in aquick-disconnect mechanism, and is actuated by the sliding movement ofthe sleeve 83. The sleeve 83 is sized to allow for actuation and therebyremoval of the female component 62 from the male component 60 using asingle hand. The female component 62 is also preferably made fromstainless steel or similar material for corrosion resistance andsubmergiblity for the recharge process.

The connector 26 is designed to provide filtering capability using thesintered metal filter within the male component 60. Preferably, themetal filter has an average pore size in the range of from about 1 toabout 10 microns, with about 7 microns being the most preferred averagepore size. The filter-fitted male component 60 has a flow ratecapability of at least 4500 gallon/hour allowing full cartridge rechargein about 60 minutes.

Uniquely, the components 60 and 62 of connector 26 are not compatiblewith standard hydraulic and/or pneumatic couplers. For example, thenipple section 72 of the male component 60 has a length and diameterincompatible with standard hydraulic and pneumatic couplers. Likewise,the receptacle 81 has a depth and internal diameter incompatible withstandard hydraulic and pneumatic couplers.

The canister 20, when depleted, may be recharged in a manner known tothose skilled in the art. To the extent a hose is required to be coupledto the canister 20 for recharging, a female component 62 will berequired on the charging hose.

In most systems, a plurality of canisters will be used to providegreater travel distance between recharging. However, the current systemworks sufficiently with a single canister, for some applications and asdesired or necessary. A heating jacket (not shown) is typically usedaround the canister to bring the solid ammonia to a sublimationtemperature.

Once converted to a gas, the ammonia is metered at the ammonia flowmodule (AFM) 28 and directed to an exhaust gas after-treatment system 14having an ammonia injector 30, as shown in FIG. 1. The AFM 28 includes acontroller 34 for metering flow of ammonia to the injector. By“metering” it is meant that the controller 34 controls ammonia flow(rate and duration) and stores information about such details includingthe amount of ammonia required by the exhaust gas after-treatment system14, the amount of ammonia being delivered, the canister providing theammonia, the starting volume of deliverable ammonia in the canister, andother such data which may be relevant to determining the amount ofdeliverable ammonia in each canister. The information may be monitoredon a periodic or continuous basis.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ammonia canister connector comprising: a malecomponent comprising: a base having an internal threaded portion fordetachable connection to an ammonia canister tap; a fluid filter withinthe base; a nipple section having at least two seal members andextending from the base; a female component connectable to a feed lineand comprising: a receptacle defined by a sidewall and configured toaccept the nipple section of the male component; a sleeve positionedabout the receptacle sidewall and capable of limited sliding movement; alocking mechanism positioned within the receptacle sidewall foralternately engaging and disengaging from the nipple section wheninserted within the receptacle, wherein the locking mechanism isactuated by the sliding movement of the sleeve; a check valve within thefemale component for preventing back flow to the receptacle.
 2. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein the fluid filter comprises a sinteredmetal filter.
 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the metal filter hasan average pore size in the range of from about 1 to about 10 microns.4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the average pore size is about 7microns.
 5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the base comprisesleft-handed threads.
 6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the basefurther comprises an integrated O-ring seal.
 7. The connector of claim1, wherein the nipple section has a length and diameter incompatiblewith standard hydraulic and pneumatic couplers.
 8. The connector ofclaim 1, wherein the receptacle has a depth and internal diameterincompatible with standard hydraulic and pneumatic couplers.
 9. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is slidable about thereceptacle sidewall using one-hand.
 10. The connector of claim 1,wherein the male component is comprised of stainless steel.
 11. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein the female component is comprised ofstainless steel.
 12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the malecomponent has a flow rate capability of at least 4500 gallon/hour.